Things to do in Montreal during April

Spring is when the city collectively exhales, and the best things to do in Montreal during April are all about that collective relaxation. Winter’s grip loosens, the sun overstays its welcome in the best way, and the streets start to feel alive again—sometimes a little too alive, as months of snow finally melt to reveal a not-so-charming layer of forgotten garbage and sidewalk mysteries. But give it a few days, and the city shakes off its seasonal hangover with a full-blown awakening.

This is when everything starts moving faster. Parks fill up, terrasses reopen, and people suddenly remember they own sunglasses. The festivals don’t stop (because this is Montreal), but now they come with the added bonus of fresh air. Whether you’re diving into an art fair, chasing vinyl finds, or indulging in a long-overdue Easter brunch, April is all about shaking off the frost and getting back to the good stuff.

Here’s what’s worth marking on your calendar this month.

Festival Vues d’Afrique's cinematic window into African and Creole realities

Since 1985, the Vues d’Afrique International Film Festival has showcased films that explore African and Creole cultures through documentaries, animations, and emerging works. From April 3 to 13, 2025, expect a lineup of thought-provoking cinema, artist discussions, and a competitive section featuring Canadian entries. Beyond the festival, year-round programming includes intercultural workshops and outdoor screenings, making this more than just a once-a-year event.

Art Souterrain: Underground art takes over

From March 15 to April 6, 2025, Montreal’s underground city transforms into a sprawling art gallery with contemporary installations lining its corridors. Merging public art with urban space, Art Souterrain makes commutes a little more thought-provoking.

Sugar Shack Season: The sweetest time of year

Throughout March, Quebec’s most beloved seasonal tradition takes centre stage. Whether you’re heading out to a traditional cabane à sucre or indulging in maple-heavy menus popping up around the city, expect everything from maple taffy on snow to full-blown feasts of pea soup, baked beans, and oreilles de crisse.

Loser Jamboree & Montréal Oi! Fest 2025

Booze, records, vintage finds, and a whole lot of attitude—Loser Jamboree on April 6, 2025 brings Montreal’s punk rock spirit to life for a one-day-only market at Foufounes Électriques. Curated by Broke & Stoked, the event blends underground fashion, collectibles, and an unapologetically loud soundtrack. Whether you’re looking for band tees, vinyl, or just some weird and wonderful oddities, this is where subculture meets commerce. Bonus: entry is free.

Later in April: Celebrating its 10th edition, Montreal Oi! Fest brings together the best in punk, ska, and street rock from around the world from April 25 to 27, 2025 at Foufounes Électriques. With bands like Peter and the Test Tube Babies, The Beltones, and Alternate Action in the lineup, expect a three-day crash course in raw, no-frills rebellion.

Plural Contemporary Art Fair: Canada’s best in one place

Once known as the Papier Art Fair, Plural gathers 45+ galleries from across Canada under one roof, highlighting a diverse range of contemporary works. From emerging talents to established names, the fair happening April 11 to 13, 2025 at the Grand Quay of the Port of Montreal is a snapshot of the country’s art scene at its most dynamic. If you’re looking to expand your collection—or just want to experience cutting-edge visual art—this is the place.

New at the MMFA: Bad Girls and Surreal Worlds

Discover these new exhibitions at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts during the month of April:

Bad Girls Only: Women and the Seven Deadly Sins (March 26 – August 10, 2025) — History, art, and cultural critique collide in this exhibition exploring how women have been linked to sin across the centuries. Featuring rarely seen northern European prints and drawings, the show unpacks themes of morality, power, and rebellion with exceptional artistry.

Worlds of Wonder: The Surrealist Journey of Alan Glass (April 17 – September 28, 2025) — Montreal-born, Mexico-based artist Alan Glass takes centre stage in this retrospective celebrating his dreamlike assemblages and intricate drawings. A lesser-known yet internationally revered Surrealist, Glass’s work blurs the line between memory, desire, and the subconscious.

OSM’s Mozart Festival: A master’s greatest works

Mozart’s genius takes centre stage in this festival dedicated to his most revered compositions at the Maison symphonique de Montréal from April 16 to 25, 2025. From the haunting beauty of the Requiem to the grandeur of the Jupiter Symphony, the series culminates in the dazzling Così fan tutte, featuring world-renowned baritone Thomas Hampson. Whether you’re a lifelong classical fan or just Mozart-curious, this is a rare chance to hear his works performed at their finest.

Easter in Montreal: Brunch, chocolates, and heritage

Easter weekend (April 18 to 21, 2025) marks the city’s unofficial emergence from winter hibernation. That means terrasses, park strolls, and indulgent feasts.

Whether you’re after a classic Easter brunch, or hunting for artisan chocolates from destinations like État de Choc, there’s plenty to satisfy. For a cultural twist, take in the grandeur of Notre-Dame Basilica and Saint Joseph’s Oratory, both hosting Holy Week celebrations and Easter Sunday mass.

Westmount Antiquarian Book Fair: A treasure hunt for bibliophiles

Canada’s smallest book fair doesn’t mean it’s short on rare finds. Antiquarian booksellers from Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia descend on Westmount for one day only on April 19, 2025, bringing collectible books, maps, prints, and manuscripts that span centuries and genres. Whether you’re after early Canadiana, scientific texts, or esoteric oddities, expect to stumble upon something unexpected.

Blue Metropolis International Literary Festival

Bringing together authors, translators, and literary minds from around the world from April 19 to 23, 2025, Blue Metropolis is more than a book festival—it’s a citywide celebration of storytelling. Expect panel discussions, readings, and workshops that cross cultural and linguistic borders, all in the spirit of promoting creativity and inclusivity through literature.

Foire Aux Vinyles: Montreal’s vinyl hunters unite

Thirty vendors, thousands of records, and a soundtrack that never stops spinning on April 26, 2025 at Saint-Denis Church—Montreal’s best vinyl fair returns for another round of crate-digging madness. Whether you’re hunting for rare psych rock, jazz deep cuts, or just looking to refresh your collection, this is where analog obsessives come to score. $5 gets you in; $15 if you want early access before the masses descend.